Australian opener Hughes could join Worcestershire for whole 2012 campaign

Worcestershire have opened talks with Australia opening batsman Phil Hughes about him joining the county for the entire 2012 campaign.

Hughes moves to New Road in early June but is now keen to start in April and play as much as possible in an effort to get his international career back on track after being omitted from the squad for the Boxing Day Test with India in Melbourne.

Earlier this week, Hughes said: 'I'm absolutely thrilled to be heading back to England in 2012.

Heading here: Hughes in action for Australia against New Zealand earlier this month

'Worcestershire is a quality organisation and I can't wait to meet my new
team-mates and reacquaint myself with English conditions.

'My
previous stint in England helped my batting enormously and I have high
expectations that spending the 2012 Australian winter in the UK will do
the same. I look forward to helping Worcestershire be a force in all
forms of the game in 2012.'